Marion’s COVID numbers continue downward trend

A few vehicles line up during COVID-19 testing in the parking lot of the First Baptist Church in Ocala, Fla. on Wednesday, Oct. 13, 2021. COVID Test Florida is doing the drive-thru testing in partnership with the Florida Department of Health Marion County, the First Baptist Church and Marion County Emergency Management with Genesis Reference Labs processing the COVID-19 tests in their lab. [Bruce Ackerman/Ocala Gazette] 2021.

Marion County’s COVID numbers continue to decline. The county registered 313 new cases, according to figures released by the Florida Department of Health Friday evening, down from 427 cases the previous week.

The county positivity rate and cases per 100,000 fell as well. The positivity rate dropped from 6.9% to 5.6% and the cases per 100,000 went from 114.6 to 84.0.

The state as a whole recorded 19,519 new cases of COVID-19 during the week of Oct 8 to Oct 14, its lowest number of new weekly cases in more than four months. Vaccination rates dropped to their lowest levels in three months as well, however, as the state recorded administering 243,220 doses.

Overall county hospitalization numbers remained steady from last week, but the percentage of COVID patients in the ICU fell slightly.

Health and Human Services data show 88% of all inpatient beds in the county occupied, the same percentage as last week, with COVID-19 patients making up 10% of the inpatient population, down from 12% reported last week.

Additionally, HHS data shows 90% of all ICU beds are occupied, and COVID-19 patients make up 10% of those in the ICU. Last week’s numbers also showed 90% of all ICU beds were occupied, but COVID-19 patients made up 27% of those in the ICU.

Marion County Public Schools are expected to release their next round of COVID-related data on Monday, Oct. 18.

The Marion County School Board has previously indicated that it may revisit the masking policy if COVID numbers remain below 99.9 cases per 100,000 and the positivity rate for new cases remains below 10% for two weeks, which is in line with the CDC FLDOH recommendations.

According to an Oct. 15 press release, The Florida Department of Health – Marion County has ended testing at both the Southeastern Livestock Pavillion as well as at the Florida Horse Park. They have partnered with Covid Test Florida and First Baptist Church in Ocala to offer free and paid testing options at the church.